orioles

Well, that's one in a row

April 19, 2010, 5:22am

Orioles

It's funny how good a team can look when it scores eight runs. There were no complaints about first-pitch swinging, the makeup of the lineup or working the count. The team scored early to give a starter the lead, added on and put it away with more offense late. Who knew Ty Wigginton would be the hero? At this point, who cares, it's just good that someone stepped up. Now the big question is this. Will the team build on this and start playing better baseball leading to more wins? The...

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Ryan Minor on Kolodny and Dalles

April 19, 2010, 10:14am

Orioles

Probably no player in the O's farm system has gotten off to a faster start at the plate than Delmarva first baseman Tyler Kolodny. The 22-year-old, right-handed hitter batted .226-9-42 in 107 games with Delmarva last year. But this year he is crushing South Atlantic League pitching so far and is batting .387-6-11. Today, he was named SAL Player of the Week. He leads the league in homers (6), slugging (1.000), total bases (44), extra-base hits (12) and triples (3). "It's a credit to...

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That's more like it

April 18, 2010, 2:39pm

Orioles

The Orioles needed this. Ty Wigginton's two-out, two-run double in the third inning today not only broke a scoreless tie, but it seemed to relax the Orioles a bit. The Birds picked up an 8-3 win at Oakland today to avoid the four-game sweep and end a nine-game losing streak. Ty Wigginton talks with Amber about his 4 RBI performance against the A's Wigginton added a two-run homer to left in the 9th for a 2 for 5, 4-RBI game. He had just three hits in the series but they all went for extra...

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RISP (updated)

April 18, 2010, 12:44pm

Orioles

That's runners in scoring position, not rest in peace. Too early to dump dirt on this season. The O's entered the top of the third in Oakland today just 2 for 44 on the year when batting with runners in scoring position and two out. But with two out and runners on first and second, Ty Wigginton delivered a two-run double to right and Nick Markakis hit a ground ball RBI single to center. So they matched their total of hits with RISP and two outs for the season in one inning. Wigginton...

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Some pre-game stats and notes

April 18, 2010, 9:17am

Orioles

Some Sunday O's pre-game stats and facts while wondering if today will be the day...... *The Orioles have played seven games this year decided by two runs or less and are 1-6 in those. *The Orioles have scored just 23 runs during a nine-game losing streak. *Today's starter, Brian Matusz, is making his 11th career Major League start today. Opponents are batting just .190 against him this year without an extra-base hit. The Orioles are 6-4 in his starts. Matusz, who has never faced...

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The starting rotations in Bowie and Baltimore

April 18, 2010, 4:55am

Orioles

The starting rotations in Bowie and Baltimore

If you are looking for a nugget, a morsel, a small crumb to hang your hat on with something even remotely positive through this dismal Orioles start it is this - the starting rotation. Kevin Millwood and Jeremy Guthrie easily pitched good enough to win the last two days and it's been that way most days during this season. The starters are throwing a lot of strikes, getting deeper in games and keeping this so far terrible hitting team in games. The starters ERA is only 4.52, still a big...

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Post-game notes: O's fall in the 9th at Oakland

April 17, 2010, 4:40pm

Orioles

Post-game notes: O's fall in the 9th at Oakland

It happened again: Apparently, any thought that it could not get any worse for the Orioles, was just not correct. They gave up two runs in the last of the 9th at Oakland Saturday afternoon to lose 4-3 to the A's. The Orioles, who lost four times all last year when leading after eight innings, have now lost three times this year when leading after eight. So, the Birds are 1-11 on the season with nine losses in row. They are 0-3 on this ten-game road trip. They are 1-4 in one-run games and...

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O's blow another 9th inning lead

April 17, 2010, 3:02pm

Orioles

It's becoming so unbelievable, but the Orioles blew another game today in the 9th inning. They took a one-run lead to the last of the 9th at Oakland, but Ryan Sweeney's two-run single with the bases loaded and one out vs. Jim Johnson gave the A's a 4-3 win. Yes, the O's blew another one in the ninth. Johnson was clearly struggling, according to Joe Angel's radio call. In the inning he gave up two hits and threw two wild pitches with Matt Wieters making a nice save to stop a third. He...

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I wish Luke Scott would have bunted the ball

April 17, 2010, 1:28pm

Orioles

I wish Luke Scott would have bunted the ball

So it was the top of the fourth in today's game with a 0-0 score. The Orioles got a rally going when Matt Wieters and Miguel Tejada opened the inning with back-to-back singles. They had runners on first and second and none out. Up came Luke Scott, batting fifth today. Now, I don't know of any American League team that would ask its number five hitter to bunt in the 4th of a 0-0 game. But I would have had Luke try to drop a bunt there. I know, it sounds crazy. Scott went on to hit into...

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This and that

April 17, 2010, 11:20am

Orioles

Sammy Sosa says "cosmetic cream" is the reason his skin tone is lighter. That doesn't happen on the clear days. Now that the Gold Glove winners in the American League have been announced and dissected, I find it amusing that so many people are ripping the voting process because they deem Adam Jones as being undeserving. Are these the same folks who railed about the Orioles' first-year players having no shot at Rookie of the Year because they're stuck on a last-place team that doesn't...

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Interest in Uggla?

April 17, 2010, 11:19am

Orioles

The FOXSports blog from the general manager meetings in Chicago includes mention of the Orioles and Giants as the clubs in strongest pursuit of Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla. Click here to read it. Both teams would move Uggla to third base. The Orioles have an opening, and they need a right-handed power bat. It does make sense, though Uggla hasn't played third in the majors. His range is limited, so better to keep him away from second, where he committed 29 errors the last two seasons....

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Snyder leaves AFL

April 17, 2010, 11:02am

Orioles

Brandon Snyder has taken his last swings in the Arizona Fall League. Snyder returned home to attend a wedding this weekend, and he won't rejoin the Phoenix Desert Dogs. He batted .354 with five doubles, one triple, three homers and 18 RBIs in 17 games. Brandon Waring is starting at first base tonight, but this will be his last game, too. He also has a wedding to attend and will be removed from the roster. The final AFL game is slated for Nov. 19. The league doesn't play on Sundays. "It...

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orioles

Staking out T-Bone

April 17, 2010, 11:01am

Orioles

Josh Bell went 2-for-5 with a double and RBI last night in the Phoenix Desert Dogs' 12-3 win over Scottsdale. He's batting .317. Matt Angle (.278) was 1-for-3 with an RBI, walk and two runs scored. Brandon Waring (.257) was 0-for-4 with an RBI in his final game in the AFL. I placed a call to Orioles first base coach John "T-Bone" Shelby yesterday because it seemed appropriate to get his thoughts on Adam Jones winning the Gold Glove. Shelby has been working with him since spring training...

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Quick chat with MacPhail

April 17, 2010, 11:01am

Orioles

Major League Baseball announced its Silver Slugger Award winners. No Orioles on the list, but congrats to Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman. American League: 1B - Mark Teixeira, New York Yankees 2B - Aaron Hill, Toronto Blue Jays 3B - Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays SS - Derek Jeter, New York Yankees OF - Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle Mariners OF - Jason Bay, Boston Red Sox OF - Torii Hunter, Los Angeles Angels C - Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins DH - Adam Lind, Toronto Blue Jays National League: 1B -...

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Finishing up well-done interview with T-Bone

April 17, 2010, 10:59am

Orioles

Finishing up well-done interview with T-Bone

Josh Bell went 2-for-5 with three RBIs yesterday for the Phoenix Desert Dogs, leaving his average at .324. Josh Perrault tossed a scoreless inning, allowing one hit and striking out two. Former Oriole Adam Loewen went 1-for-5 with an RBI and four strikeouts. He's batting .179. Special thanks to Jay Cutler for those five picks last night. The guy who took San Francisco -3 appreciated each and every one of them. But he could have done without that final drive. Not good for his blood...

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Spring ahead

April 17, 2010, 10:56am

Orioles

One of my loyal readers unearthed a portion of the Orioles' 2010 spring training schedule on 4sarasota.com. Plenty of dates still need to be filled, but you can check out the rough draft. The Orioles apparently will open at home - and that's Sarasota, in case you've been away for a while - on March 4 against the Tampa Bay Rays. We'll also see the Pirates, Tigers and Phillies (oh my!), so it won't be the same batch of opponents that were forced down our collective throats all these...

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Quick AFL check

April 17, 2010, 10:56am

Orioles

Here's a rarity in the hitter-happy Arizona Fall League: A 1-0 game. Matt Angle homered in the second inning to provide all the scoring in the Phoenix Desert Dogs' 1-0 win over Peoria Saguaros. Angle, starting in center field, went deep for the first time in the AFL. Josh Bell was 1-for-3 with a double and walk. He's batting .320. Stephen Strasburg allowed one hit, walked two and struck out six in 3 2/3 innings. He improved to 4-1 because you don't have to go a minimum five innings to...

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orioles

This and that

April 17, 2010, 10:55am

Orioles

If I see one more advertisement that includes a talking pothole or dogs that save Christmas, my head might explode. But at least I can be reminded every 12 minutes that I need to buy diamonds or I'll die alone. With the winter meetings coming up in three weeks, I find my thoughts drifting back to a few names that were tied to the Orioles at last year's gathering in Las Vegas. Braden Looper drew their interest, and we kicked around the pros and cons of adding him to the rotation. He went...

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Injury updates

April 17, 2010, 10:30am

Orioles

I had the craziest dream last night that Bill Belichick went for it on fourth-and-2 from his own 28-yard line with 2:08 left and his team holding a six-point lead. Must have been something I ate. Maybe Belichick needs a bench coach. I hear Dave Jauss is still available. I exchanged e-mails with Orioles manager Dave Trembley, and not to tease him about Notre Dame. He attended Saturday's Family FanFest in Sarasota, Fla., and had the opportunity to check on Nolan Reimold, Brad Bergesen and...

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And the winner is...

April 17, 2010, 10:28am

Orioles

Oakland closer Andrew Bailey has been named the AL's Rookie of the Year. Bailey received 13 first-place votes. Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus finished second, one point ahead of Detroit pitcher Rick Porcello, after garnering eight first-place votes (one more than Porcello). Jeff Niemann was fourth, followed by Gordon Beckham and Brett Anderson. Florida outfielder Chris Coghlan won the NL award.